The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-18
THE GAS SUPPLY PROJECTS
The Manufacturers Regard the Cooper
alive Scheme as Impracticable.
They Urge the Council TO Pass an Ordinance
Opening the City to Competitive Pipeline
Companies with Proper Restrictions.

Court ROOM last night, to consider the natural
gas question did not afford any consolation to
Ihe projectors of the cooperative scheme, as
expressed at Tomlinson Hall on Saturday night.
Among the twenty-five thirty present. the
majority represented large manufacturing con-
Germs, and while each disinclined to take the
initiative in talking. when it once began it was
soon found that their ideas were akin to those
of the Council committee on natural gas.
Thomas Davis, of Sinker, Davis G. Co., presided.
and Ewald Over acted as secretary. Two or
three mimi ties elapsed before anyone spoke a
word, and then it was suggested
that Major Robbins had come to
the meeting ''loaded." The gentleman
thus singled out to begin the proceedings dis
claimed that he had anything to say. He was
afraid he had been talking too much. but it ap-
psared to him that the prosperity of the city de-
pended on increased population; this on the in
crease in manufactures, and the development of
manufactures on cheap fuel Great considera-
ton should be given to the question, how are the
manufactures to secure this cheap fuell This
rested largely on what the Council anu Board of
Aldermen would do IL regard to the ordinance
granting franchise. It was the prevailing wish
that these bodies should establish maximum
rate to be charged for gas by any pipeline com
pany. This would amount to nothing unless
there was a considerable reduction in
the cost OF COAL and to assist the
Council committee having in charge
the proposed ordinance he would move that
q committee Of three be appointed to secure and
tabulate statistics rs to the cost of fuel per
boiler, forge or furnace, and report to the ad-
journed meeting of manufacturers. The resolu-
ton also provided that rhe cost of natural to
consumers should not be more than 80 per cent.
of the net cost of coal. From the figures so OBJ
tanned. effort should be made to fix grad
uated scale of naturalgas prices. The meeting
promptly adopted the resolution, and the chair
man named the committee Irwin Robbins,
K. G. Atkins and l.. w. Hasselman. 1t Is re-
quested that manufacturers will send to one or
the other of these gentlemen the information
required.
There was no readiness in suggesting further
action until f. B. Martindale by request, gave
his views in regard to the supply of gas and the
manner of procuring it. He said the most diff
hcult question just now is, whore can the gas be
found in sufficient quantity to supply the city2
1t is certain that it be had within twenty
miles of the city He believed that it could be-
had nearer, but, after all, the only certainty is
when the drill talks. There has been great
deal of lying about wells Some that have been
represented as gushers are weak; hence. the
tent of the supply is still somewhat matter
of conjecture; but he had no doubt that all the
gas needed for the city would eventually be had.
However, it was entirely practicable for the
meeting to express its ideas in regard TO the pos
sibility Of forming local company. The manu-
facturers ought to know il this be dore. If
not, the reliance must be on foreign capital to
pipe gas to the city. This ought TO be settled
speedily SO the Council need meet with no fur
Their delay in passing ordinance. Manufact-
urers will not come here on the present state of
facts. He had letters from the owners of a large
locomotive works who said that before remov-
ing their plant they must first know the
cost of fuel and then whether it is to be perma-
nent, He Urged upon the manufacturers a
concerted effort in developing gas fields. 1t
would cost but Httle-about ST. 900 per we'll.
Nobody is going to have a corner gas fields,
and while they developing the gas supply
they ought also to consider the cost of piping it
have an allowance of fair margin for the risk
that is undertaken. 1t is asserted that certain
companies will not accept an ordinance with
limitations. They may talk that way, may act
that way. but he did not think they would
refuse TO accept a franchise under conditions. IF
they did, there were other companies ready to
work under such an ordinance and put gas into
the city at 80 per cent. of the cost of coal He
favored the placing of schedule of prices in the
ordinance, but, at the same time, he would like
60 citizens taking much greater interest in
sinking wells II that way the field can be thor
oughly developed, and the people would know
where gas is to be had. He asked that the men
who proposed putting in pipe plant be given
fair chance for the money they invest, but ut
the same time the interests of citizens should be
protected. All the gas stock he had amounted
to nothing compared with the prosperity of In
dianapolis. He did not speak a disinterested
man. His investments were here and he ex-
pected them to be improved in the improvement
of Indianapolis
A. M. Hadley strongly supported the idea Of
developing the gas fields and wanted the manu-
facturers to go into the enterprise. Many had
told him that they would subscribe onehalf the
cost of their fuel for this purpose. He moved
that committee be appointed to canvass the
manufacturers to their willingness to enter
into such enterprise.
X. G. Atkins preferred to have the duties of
the committee extended He would like to
know how much could be secured from manu-
facturers to bring gas to the city. Senti.
dollars to act. The interests of manufac turers
were scattered through several developing COM
panies They ought to be combined. IL this
was done they could bring gas to the city for
themselves. The manufacturers do not ask for
free gas. They want to- pay for it, and the ques
zion is whether they will pay themselves or some 4
company. A gentleman had urged him to form
a company of manufacturers, saying, IF you
will find the means to pay for the pipes and pip
ing will furnish the gas But" said Mr.. At
kns, ''f we do nothing ourselves we ought not
to stand in the way of Others"
William II. Tucker did not think one dollar for
this purpose could be had from nine-tenths of
the manufacturers. People were afraid of the
Standard on Company, when there was nothing
TO be afraid of, for restrictions could be placed
upon it that would protect the citizens. That
company made business OF Supplying fuel, and
he wanted it to come into the city. 1t made no
difference where gas is to be had, what is de-
sired is to have somebody bring it to the city.
ness with the manufacturers. They did not
want to 60 into any speculative schemes. He
favored the appointment of committee to me-
moralize the Council to pass as speedily as DOS
Bible general ordinance open TO all with the
proper restrictions to the charges to be made
for gas. The greatest danger is In dallyinc with
companies on paper. They say wait until we
raise $500, 900, and when the money is represent
ed on paper they rush to the Council
and influence that body to give them
a franchise which they cannot use, for
lv Qf rms hn
do do not hive 5000 cents of their own. The
franchise must be given to strong company,
one that has the means TO sink wells and pipe gas
70 the city. just now gas but a franchise is
TO be had and every body wants it.
Councilman Swain, j. G. Adams and others
spoke OF the danger OF delay and of the purpose
of Council to pass an ordinance free to ALL but
with limitations that would protect the city and
her people.
On motion of Irwin Robbins the meeting ex-
pressed the wish that ordinance be speedlly |
passed, but with restrictions in regard 70 the